KINGSTON May 14, 2026: Yesterday, I had the profound privilege of visiting the St. Thomas Teen Hub alongside an esteemed delegation including Hon Krystal Lee, State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW); Scott Renner, United States Chargé d’Affaires; Dr Paul Young, Head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior officials from the St Thomas Health Department and Olga Isaza, UNICEF Representative. While such high-level visits are important, what made this moment truly powerful in addition to who stood at the front of the room, was who sat inside it: a group of young Jamaicans.
We gathered in the shadow of a heartbreaking loss. One of the Hub’s own, a young life full of promise, was taken too soon in a violent altercation after leaving the Centre. The grief was palpable, yet so too was the resilience. The visit was not simply ceremonial; it was an act of solidarity, a reminder to the youth that they are seen, valued, and deeply supported.
Listening to Youth, Learning from Youth
The young people present were from Paul Bogle High and Seaforth High, accompanied by their dedicated guidance counselors, and they did not hold back. In a guided conflict resolution session led by the Centre’s dynamic manager, Chantal Williams, they spoke candidly about what upsets them, how misunderstandings escalate and the ways their own actions can affect others.
The openness was striking.
There was no hesitation, no need to filter or perform. In this space, they were simply themselves—honest, reflective, and engaged.
The conversation yielded powerful insights:
- Young people voiced a deep need for more support for their parents, recognizing that stable families help prevent conflict.
- They called for peace—an end to violence that continues to threaten their futures.
- They embraced simple but impactful coping strategies emphasized by the Centre Manager: Think. Breathe. Ask for help.
These are not abstract concepts. They are life-saving tools.
A Space That Changes Lives
Before the Teen Hub existed, many of these youth shared that they spent time at the library, a place of learning, but one that required silence and restraint. Today, they have a space where they can speak, laugh, ask questions and grow freely.
At the Teen Hub, young people can:
- Access essential services including resume writing, homework support and free printing of schoolwork or other essential documents
- Identify and apply for summer employment opportunities
- Receive emotional support and guidance
- Access key health services and referrals
- Build life skills and resilience
- Enjoy a safe, non-judgmental environment
This is more than a physical space…it is a lifeline.
The interaction between the youth and the Centre Manager was particularly moving. In every exchange I could feel warmth, trust, and authenticity. The bond that has been nurtured over time was evidence of a relationship rooted in mutual respect and care. For our UNICEF team, this connection was deeply emotional. It is proof that when young people are given the right environment, they will not only show up - but they will also thrive.
A Model That Aligns with the Thrive Agenda
This initiative represents what UNICEF’s Thrive Agenda stands for: supporting adolescents to develop holistically—emotionally, socially, and physically—so they can transition into adulthood healthy, empowered and resilient.
The Teen Hub touches every aspect of a young person’s life:
- Mental health and emotional well-being
- Social development and conflict resolution
- Access to health services, including confidential HIV testing for those over age 16
- Career readiness and life planning support
It is heartening to see the Ministry of Health and Wellness prioritizing and investing in prevention. It reflects a keen understanding of wellbeing that does not wait for symptoms to be treated. It preserves and sustains health. This is the kind of forward-thinking approach that can transform communities and save lives.
Community Support Is Strong—and Growing
Parents are supportive. Schools are engaged. Guidance counselors are present and active. The ecosystem around these young people is strengthening—and that matters.
Scott Renner, the US Chargé d’Affaires captured it well, commending the youth for taking the facility seriously: without their engagement, even the best-designed space would fall short. But here, the opposite is true, the Hub is alive with purpose because young people have claimed it as their own.
The Path Forward: Scale and Sustain
As powerful as this experience was, it also underscored an urgent truth: More Teen Hubs are needed to serve more of Jamaica’s adolescents.
Every parish in Jamaica deserves spaces like this. Every young person deserves access to a safe environment where they can:
- Express themselves freely
- Learn vital life skills
- Access critical health services
- Receive emotional support
Scaling up this initiative is a necessity.
UNICEF stands ready to support the expansion of this model, and we welcome the partnership of all stakeholders who recognize its value.
A Final Reflection
Yesterday was not just a visit. It was a reminder.
A reminder that young people are not the problem; they are an important part of the solution.
A reminder that when we invest in safe spaces, we invest in safer communities.
A reminder that even in the face of loss, hope can take root and grow.
At the St. Thomas Teen Hub, hope is alive. It is spoken in the voices of youth who dare to dream of peace. It is seen in relationships built on trust. And it is felt in every corner of a space that tells young people: You belong. You matter. You can thrive.
